Major Rainstorm Causes Mudflows, Havoc In Parched California

The first major rainstorm to hit drought-stricken California since February on Tuesday caused mudflows, felled power lines and large trees, and forced evacuations, especially in the southern part of the state.

Updated — 6:23 p.m. ET

In one neighborhood north of L.A., rivers popped up where they really shouldn't be.

Mud flow swamps Camarillo Springs neighborhood; watch LIVE storm coverage on ABC7

The flow of mud and debris prompted mandatory evacuations for dozens of homeowners.

#Mud and debris on San Como Ln, #CamarilloSprings #BREAKING. Noon Update

Despite the onslaught of mud, crews worked throughout the day to channel mudflows around homes and through neighborhood streets.

Gusty winds also downed trees and power lines, closing streets across region.

IMAGE: Tree topples on Sherman Oaks street. More viewer storm photos >>> http://t.co/alZB0XxWlE

Also in the San Francisco-Bay Area region.

Here's another fallen tree at 700 block of Waller. #rain #storm

Flooding also forced the closure of Pacific Coast Highway, a major artery connecting Malibu and Santa Monica.

Water and mud cover PCH just north of Deer Creek Rd. PCH remains closed between Las Posas & Yerba Buena. Alt: US 101.

The above image was tweeted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department Air Operations Section, showing a car being swept away during a flash flood from earlier this year in Nevada.

The storm also disrupted commuters across California.

UPDATE: Heavy rain ruins Bay Area morning commute, shuts down cable cars : http://t.co/xiuB5hEtJE

The L.A. area certainly saw its usual share of freeway chaos.

#TRAFFICALERT Truck hangs over NB 55 to 91; 2 lanes closed on EB 91 -photo via #ABC7Eyewitness @Tanlyy96

And apparently caught TV reporters in typically sunny Southern California unprepared.

#NewsFlash It's raining in #SanDiego. Send us your weather pictures: http://t.co/vkGKLfTeEd

Here's a satellite image of the storm.

Satellite image of the current storm impacting Southern California. #LARain #CAwx #SoCal #LAweather

The heavy rainfall sent runoff gushing out from storm drains, swelling normally anemic urban riverways.

When I drove in at 5AM, the LA River wasn't even much of a river...take a look at it now.

It was largest rain event to hit California since February.

But as massive as the storm was, the rainfall totals weren't expected to make any lasting dent in the state's water deficit. Reservoir levels remain extremely low and, overall, 2014 has been close to a total fail in terms of bringing the sort of consistent precipitation needed to bring recharge them.

The latest drought map shows just how dry California has become.

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